Bicycle Looking for a Whale (2011 Film)

Bicycle Looking for a Whale (Korean: 고래를 찾는 자전거; RR: Goraereul Chatneun Jajeongeo) is a 2011 South Korean drama film directed and written by Kim Young-ro. The film explores themes of familial bonds and resilience through the journey of two young siblings.

Promotional image for the film Bicycle Looking for a Whale

Plot

The story centers on Eun-chul (Park Ji-bin) and his younger sister, Eun-ha (Lee Seul-gi), who live together in a small village. Eun-ha suffers from a degenerative eye condition that is gradually causing her to lose her vision. Despite pressure from adults to place her in a specialized facility, Eun-chul is determined to keep his family together.

Eun-ha expresses a persistent desire to see a whale. To fulfill her wish before her sight fades completely, Eun-chul decides to take her on a journey from Namwon to the coastal town of Jangsaeng. The siblings travel the distance by bicycle. During their trek, they encounter a man named Duk-soo (Lee Moon-sik), who becomes a significant figure in their lives, providing the paternal presence they have lacked.

Actor Park Ji-bin — Park Ji-bin, who portrays Eun-chul

Cast

The film features the following primary cast members:

Park Ji-bin as Eun-chul
Lee Seul-gi as Eun-ha
Lee Moon-sik as Duk-soo
Je-min as Duk-soo's wife
Kim Yeo-jin as the woman from Eonyang

Actress Lee Seul-gi — Lee Seul-gi, who portrays Eun-ha

Actor Lee Moon-sik — Lee Moon-sik, who portrays Duk-soo

Actress Je-min — Je-min, who portrays Duk-soo's wife

Actress Kim Yeo-jin — Kim Yeo-jin, who portrays the woman from Eonyang

Production and Release

The film was produced by Kim In-dae and distributed by Pilma Pictures. It was released in South Korea on September 22, 2011, with a total runtime of 100 minutes.

Still from the film — A scene from the production